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 Systems and methods for identity verification using continuous biometric monitoringThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080040780. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]The present application is related to co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 10/217,149 entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALL TREATMENT;" Ser. No. 10/642,532 entitled "CENTRALIZED CALL PROCESSING;" Ser. No. 10/701,549 entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CROSS-HATCHING BIOMETRICS WITH OTHER IDENTIFYING DATA;" and Ser. No. 11/334,522 entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR KEYWORD DETECTION IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT FACILITY USING A HYBRID APPLICATION;" the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002]The present invention relates generally to identity verification, and more particularly, to identity verification using continuous biometric monitoring. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003]Some telecommunication providers offer services to residents of controlled-environment facilities. Examples of controlled-environment facilities include prisons, police departments, hospitals, hospices, dorms, and camps, among others. In order to control, monitor, or restrict telephone usage among its residents, a controlled-environment facility may employ a call processing system. [0004]In a typical call processing system, a personal identification number (PIN) authorization mechanism may request that a resident provide a PIN before placing or receiving a call. After the resident enters his or her PIN, the system determines the resident's identity and decides whether to allow him or her to operate a telephone. The call processing system may then apply a set of calling restrictions or rules associated with that resident. For example, some restrictions may prevent the resident from calling specific non-resident parties. Alternatively, other restrictions may only allow the resident to call specific parties and/or may establish a maximum number of calls that can be made or received by that resident at that time. Yet other restrictions may include preventing the resident from initiating a three-way call, taking part in a conference call, or the like. [0005]An alternative to PIN-based systems involves the use of biometrics. The term "biometrics" refers to technologies that measure and analyze human characteristics for authentication purposes. A biometrics-based call processing system may acquire a resident's biometric sample before allowing the resident to place or receive a call. The system may use the biometric sample to determine the resident's identity, and it may then grant access to a telephone while applying a set of rules or restrictions associated with the resident. [0006]The inventor hereof has discovered a number of problems with both PIN-based and biometric-based authorization mechanisms. Particularly, a problem unique to controlled-environment facilities such as prisons is that inmates frequently attempt to circumvent identity verification procedures. For example, inmates may share, trade, buy, and sell PINs, which may then be used by any person in possession thereof. An inmate having another's PIN may gain access to the system while avoiding particular call restrictions that would otherwise be applied to his or her calls. Moreover, an inmate may have his or her biometric feature scanned by a biometric authorization mechanism and, upon successful completion of this initial authentication procedure, he or she may hand the phone to another inmate who actually conducts the call. Consequently, authorities seldom know with certainty which inmate actually participated through the entire course of a phone call, despite the presence of a PIN and/or biometric identity verification procedure. [0007]The inventor hereof has also identified a need to monitor and record the identity of a person who is actually participating in a telephone call, even if that person's identity is not susceptible to verification prior to, or during the ongoing call. For instance, when a crime suspect is arrested, he or she has the right to make a phone call. During this first phone call, the suspect may call a friend or a co-conspirator to provide instructions regarding a crime in which the suspect is involved. Accordingly, it would be useful to law enforcement agencies to have the ability to record the identity of that suspect while knowing with certainty that it was he or she who actually conducted the entire telephone conversation, even though his or her identity may only be ultimately verified or matched at a later time. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008]Aspects of the present invention are directed generally to identity verification using biometric monitoring. In certain embodiments, the identity of a device operator may be verified through the continuous monitoring of at least one of his or her biometric traits. Therefore, even after the successful completion of an initial authentication procedure by which the device operator gains access to a device, embodiments of the present invention may continuously verify the operator's identity during operation of the device. The term "continuously," as used herein, means "constantly" or "reoccurring in rapid succession." As such, a record may be created which contains the biometric traits and/or the identity of all persons who have operated the device since the original authentication procedure. In addition, where there may be a need to control or otherwise restrict usage of a device according to access rules associated with a device operator, the present invention may allow these rules to be updated as a function of which operator is actually using the device. [0009]Certain embodiments of the present invention are particularly well suited for use in the monitoring of telephone calls between residents and non-residents of controlled-environment facilities. Controlled-environment facilities include correctional facilities (e.g., municipal jails, county jails, state prisons, federal prisons, military stockades, juvenile facilities, detention camps, and home incarceration environments), healthcare facilities (e.g., hospitals, nursing homes, mental health facilities, and rehabilitation facilities, such as drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities), restricted living quarters (e.g., hotels, resorts, camps, dormitories, and barracks), and the like. Certain controlled-environment facilities may be thought of as a small community or city, perhaps walled or otherwise access restricted, wherein various activities occur within the community and between the community and those outside the community in the daily operation thereof. Such a community may include a number of individuals and enterprises directly associated therewith, including management, staff, and inmates, residents, patients, or guests (herein referred to as "residents"), and a number of individuals and enterprises indirectly associated therewith, including friends and family of residents, vendors, government agencies, providers of services to residents, and individuals connections to the facility or its residents. [0010]In one exemplary, non-limiting embodiment, a method may comprise determining the identity of a party to a telephone call by continuously monitoring a biometric feature of that party while the telephone call is in progress. If authentication fails while the call is ongoing, appropriate action may be taken. For instance, the call may be terminated, a warning may be issued, the call may be recorded, authorities may be allowed to listen in, etc. In another exemplary, non-limiting embodiment, a system may comprise a biometric sensor that is built into a telephone handset or otherwise placed near the telephone at a location where it is accessible to persons operating the telephone. The biometric sensor may take biometric readings of telephone users continuously, at selected time intervals, or upon the occurrence of a specific event, such as, for instance, a change in voice tone or print, the presence of a keyword or sound in the conversation, the expiration of a time limit, or the like. In addition, the system may comprise a database for verifying the biometric traits or the identity of persons who have used the telephone, and for storing a call record or a telephone conversation. Hence, an investigator may later retrieve those records and determine the identities of one or more of the parties that actually participated in the call and/or of one or more parties that participated in the call at particular times during the call. [0011]The present invention has numerous advantages. For example, whereas prior art PIN and biometric authentication mechanisms only verify the identity of persons attempting to gain access to a device, the present invention may verify the identity of persons who have actually operated the device. For instance, if a person uses another's PIN to place a telephone call, the present invention may detect, via continuous biometric monitoring, that the PIN or biometric sample used to obtain access to the telephone does not belong to the person actually participating in the call. Moreover, if a person successfully completes an initial authentication procedure and subsequently hands off the phone to another person while the call is ongoing, the present invention may also detect that change and take appropriate action. [0012]The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING [0013]For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0014]FIG. 1 is a high-level block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the present invention; [0015]FIG. 2 is a high-level block diagram illustrating a system which is adapted for use according to one embodiment of the present invention; [0016]FIGS. 3A-3C show biometric telephone handsets used in certain embodiments of the present invention; [0017]FIGS. 4A and 4B show biometric computer mice used in other embodiments of the present invention; [0018]FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating steps that may be performed during operation of certain embodiments of the present invention; and [0019]FIG. 6 depicts a block diagram of a computer system adapted for use according to embodiments of the present invention. Continue reading... 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